The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Budget: Fact Sheet

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the federal agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, increase the efficiency of its delivery, and broaden access to health services. In addition, AHRQ is required to disseminate its research findings to health care providers, payers, and consumers, among others. The agency collects data on health care expenditures and utilization through the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). This CRS report provides an overview of AHRQ’s budget and funding. AHRQ’s program level had been increasing steadily over the period FY2011-FY2015, with decreases in discretionary funding being more than offset by transfers of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148, as amended) mandatory funds. However, in FY2016, the total program level for the agency decreased from its prior-year level for the first time since FY2011. Funding for the agency has fluctuated since FY2016. Most recently, funding decreased by about $17 million from FY2025 to FY2026. ACA mandatory funds have been a prominent and increasing source of funding for the agency since FY2010, although discretionary funding continues to be the major source of support for the agency by a significant margin. Authorized appropriations for AHRQ expired in FY2005; however, the agency has continued to receive annual funding through annual appropriations acts since that time.